the secret to slheding the pouns and keeping them off. >>> it's saturday, december 29th, good morning, i'm alison koski. >> randi and victor are off today. thank you for starting your day off. >> happy to be here. >> we have to talk about money, your money, specifically, and sadly still not good news. >> and it's about the fiscal cliff. negotiations going on this weekend to try and keep from going off the fiscal cliff. the deadline's now just three days away. president obama's modestly optimistic the top democrat and republican in the senate can work things out. jessica yellin has more on what needs to happen in order to make a deal. >> alison, christy, hi. well, the good news is, things could have been worse. it does seem those of us watching the sidelines as though time is running out. congress does some of its best, at least the speediest work when the nation's back is against the wall. >> reporter: after a rare oval office meeting, the president said he's modestly optimistic a deal can come together, emphasis on modestly. >> the american people are watching what we do here. obviou